Gas meter



D, N. LAMBERT GAS METER June 10 1924;

Filed July 20. 1925 Cid ating means.

Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

I DAVID N. LAMBERT, "0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAS METER.

Application filed July 20, 1923. Serial No. 652,798.

To all whom it may concern:

registering mechanism actuated by such diaphragms for. lndicating the volume of gas which has passed through the meter.

The invention pertains more particularly to the means foroperatively connecting the measuring diaphragms to the register actultn meters of this type it is usual to employ an expansible diaphragm havin a metal disk to which the meter actuating nneans is connected by a bracket composed of white metal or similar noncorrosive metal having a low melting point,

the bracket having feet which are attached to the diaphragm disk by solder and which must be detached from said disk by unsol- "dering them to enable the meter to be repaired. Such brackets, however, presented 1 the objections that the soft metal feet there *such brackets as heretofore constructed.

of are melted away, more or less, incident to the soldering or unsoldering thereof, so that the brackets frequently become unfit "for use, owing to the deformation of the bases of the feet of the brackets in a manner which precludes correct positioning of the bracket on the diaphragm disk.

" The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved bracket which overcomes the 'difiiculties and objections which have been experienced with The feet of the bracket, according to the present invention, embody inserts or sections of metal of high melting point and capableofbeing soldered and unsoldered'with respect to the diaphragm disk, with facility but without liability of melting away, al' though the body of the bracket may be composed of non-corrosive white metal of low melting point, thus facilitating the operations of soldering and unsoldering the feet of the bracket relatively to the diaphragm disk and also insuring accurate fitting of I the bracket against the diaphragm disk, so

that correct functioning of the register actuating mechanism is insured. The improved bracket, according to the presentinvention,

also embodies means for reinforcing it so that it will possess ample strength, and hence will not be liable to distortion or breakage, notwlthstanding that the bracket may be composed largely of white metal or similar soft metal, the re nforclng means serving to securely anchor the inserts or sections of high melting point metal to the remainder of the bracket, thus forming a strong unitary structure. A further object of the invention is to provide a pivot shaft for operatively connecting the bracket to the register actuatlng means, which shaft will. resist corrosion which heretofore has interfered seriously with the correct functioning. of I meters of this type, the pivot shaft, according to the present invention, being composed preferably of Monel metal which is not only non-corrosive, and hence free from binding in its bearings, but also possesses the requisite strength and wear resisting proper-" ties.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts,'all as will be hereinafter "more fully describe'd,-the features of novelty being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a "gas meter of the dry type, the front plate of the meter, casing being removed to show a bracket constructed in accordance withthe present invention applied to the diaphragm disk thereof Figure 2 represents a section through a portion of the meter mechanism taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a section taken through the bracket'in the plane of the pivot shaft thereof; and

Figure 4 represents a transverse section through the bracket on the line l l of Figure 3.

Similar parts are designated by the same' reference characters in the different figures. The preferred embodiment of the 1nvention is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter described in detail.

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown as equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

llO

therefrom.

gas from the inlet of the meter and in so doin expanding, the gas discharging alternate y from the diaphragms to the outlet of the meter, the diaphragms contracting or collapsing incident to the discharge or gas U The expansible diaphragms each comprise usually a metal disk 6 which i. is connected peripherally by a bellows 7 to the relatively fixed portion 8 of the dia phra'gm, this latter portion of the diaphragm eingusually fixed to the stationary wall 9 }contained within the meter casin that l 'theqdiaphragm disk 6 will reciprocate incialden't to the expansion and contraction of the z djaphra gm. "Such reciprocating movements [of the diaphragm disk are utilized, in mef tersfof this type, to actuate the registering .iineans, it being common to employ a rock shaft 10',ithe upper end of which is connect- Fed to'suitable register operating means, and

the lower portion of which has an arm or blade, 11 fixed thereto, the free end of this if armor blade being operatively connected to i'lt'he diaphragm disk 6, so that the recipro eating. movements of the latter will impart l rocking movements to the shaft 10, the latter illlll'll acting to actuate the registering means.

The bracket provided by the present invention serves to operatively connect the arm-orblade 11 to the diaphragm disk 6, it I being usual and desirable to solder such are-aka to the diaphragm disk, although un- L lfsoldring of the bracket becomes necessary when the meter is to be repaired. The improvedbracket, according to the present in .ve'ntion, comprises a main or body portion IQ which is composedpreferably of white 'ametal or other metal which is non-corrosive,

a so'ft metal of low melting point being usuallypreferred, owing to the facility with ,which it, may be cast. This main or body fp'ortion of the bracket is formed with bear- "ings 13 and 14 to receive a pivot shaft 15,

which, latter is soldered or otherwise secured to the free end of the arm orblade ll and blade 11 to the bracket. been experienced in meters of this type 60,,f

serves to operatively connect the arm or Difliculties have using iron or steel pivot shafts, owing to the c orro sion of. the shaft and the consequent binding of the shaft in its bearings, but I jhave'succeeded in eliminating such difliculties by constructing the pivot shaft 15 of Monel metal which is non-corrosive and also possesses the requisite strength and wqar resisting properties. The feet of the liracket which are to be soldered to the face of the diaphragm disk 6, embody, according to the present invention, sections or inserts 15 composed of a metal which has a meltin point substantially above that of solder an which is capable of being readily tinned and soldered, brass being preferably used for these sections or inserts. These sections or inserts 15 present edges which are adapted to lit truly against the face of the diaphragm disk (3 and are adapted to be soldered thereto, the relatively high melting point of the brass or other metal composing these sections or inserts enabling the bracket to be easily and quickly soldered or unsoldered without liabilit of melting awn or deforming them, so t at an accurate t of the bracket to the diaphragm disk is always insured, and, moreover, no great degreeiof skill on the part of the workman is required in performing these operations.

In order to securely anchor the inserts to the main portion of the bracket, the edges of the inserts may be formed with recesses or notches 16 into which portions ofthe white metal composing the main portion of the bracket may flow and thus interlock the inserts with the main portion of the bracket. Also, to further anchor the insertsto the main portion of the bracket and to reinforce, stiffen and strengthen the bracket, 1 steel, iron or other strong metal rod. 17' is preferably provided, the ends of this rod being secured firmly in holes 18 formed in the inserts 15, the rod bridging the inserts, and the portion 19 of the mainwhitemetal portion of the bracket preferably surrounds or envelops the rod, the composite structure thus formed providing a rigid union between the bearing and insert at one end of the bracket and the bearing and insert at the opposite end thereof. The construction herein shown may be advantageously monutactured by assembling the inserts on the ends of the reinforcing rod 17, lacin such structure within a suitable mod an then casting the main portion of the bracket of white metal so that it will flowaround the rod 17 and port-ions of the insertsesubstam tially as shown. The inserts are preferably tinned over their entire surfaces to avoid corrosion and to facilitate soldering of the inserts to the diaphragm disk.

The bracket provided by the present invention is capable of being soldered to and unsoldered from the diaphragm disk ogreat number of times without re niring rop acement and accurate fitting oi the bracket to the disk is always insured, and, moreover, no particular degree of skill or care-is required of the workman. Furthermore, the ,oomposite bracket composed of diflerentnietals constitutes a unitary structure, possessing great strength and rigidity and hence breakage of the bracket is not likely to occur and also the bracket is capable of withstanding distortion, so that accurate alinement of the bearings of the bracket is maintained.

I claim as my invention 1. A bracket for attaching the register actuating means to the diaphragm disk of a gas meter comprising a main portion composed of a metal of low melting point and embodying bearings for a connecting shaft, and sections composed of metal of relatively higher melting point united with the main portion of the bracket and providing feet adapted to be soldered to the diaphragm disk.

2. A bracket for attaching the register actuating means to the diaphragm disk of a gas meter comprising a part adapted for connection with the register actuating means and composed of a metal of low melt ing point, and individual relatively spaced attaching feet composed of a metal of relatively higher melting point united with the end portion of said part and adapted to be soldered to the diaphragm disk.

3. A bracket for attaching the register actuating means to the diaphragm disk of a gas meter comprising a portion composed of a metal of low melting point forming bearings for a connecting shaft, sections of metal of relatively higher melting point united with said bearings and forming feet adapted to be soldered to the diaphragm disk, and a reinforcement connecting said sections.

4. A bracket for attaching the register actuating means to the diaphragm disk of a gas meter comprising a body portion hav ing bearings for a connecting shaft, feet embedded and anchored in the body portion and adapted for attachment to the body portion, and a reinforcement connecting together the feet and embedded in the body portion.

5. Means for operatively connecting the diaphragm disk to the register actuating means of a gas meter comprising a bracket attached to the diaphragm disk and having bearings of non-corrosive material and a shaft composed of Monel metal fitted in said bearings and forming a pivotal connection between the bracket and the register actuating means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DAVID N. LAMBERT. 

